The Aporia · Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US

Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit, using nicknames like "Rocky Balboa," have been indicted for an AI-powered corporate impersonation scheme that defrauded companies out of approximately $129 million over 18 months. The trio used deepfake technology to mimic executives' voices and appearances in emails and video calls before instructing victims to transfer funds to international bank accounts, which were then converted into cryptocurrency. Arrests occurred between June and September across multiple countries, with Hazan previously convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2008. The indictment highlights the FBI's efforts to combat such sophisticated cybercrimes involving emerging technologies.

Written by AI on 2026-11-06, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Three individuals, Jacob Soall (41), Sharon Hazan (54), and Guy Sheetrit (42), have been indicted on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys in a scheme that stole approximately $129 million from companies worldwide over more than 18 months. The indictment, filed in a U.S. District Court in New York, also includes money laundering charges against the trio. Their victims included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a bank in Rhode Island, a financial technology company in the UK, a mutual fund company in Massachusetts, and a pet food company in Florida. Hazan and Sheetrit are from Spain and Israel, respectively, while Soall is associated with the United Arab Emirates. The FBI stated its commitment to adapting quickly to new forms of criminal technology aimed at harming New Yorkers and businesses operating in their communities.

Written for “Trio Charged for AI Fraud Stealings” on 2026-11-06, grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Trio Charged for AI Fraud Stealings

Crime & Law · 5 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads unscored and hedges 47% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

3 charged in scheme to use AI to impersonate CEOs and attorneys to steal $129 million Same event

Toronto Star

Hedges 1 of 2 claims Outlet record 64/100

3 charged with using AI to steal some $129 million from companies Same event

CBS News

Hedges 11 of 20 claims Outlet record 69/100

US accuses trio of using AI to impersonate CEOs and lawyers to steal US$129 million Same event

South China Morning Post

Hedges 3 of 4 claims Outlet record 62/100

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Trisha Mahajan

39 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 The group would then direct employees to contact an attorney at a major law firm, whom they were also prepared to impersonate.

2026-11-06 · mixed framing · Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US

🔮 US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying Washington could take further action against the country while signalling that he would prefer to avoid additional destruction.

2026-11-06 · mixed framing · 'You'll know soon enough': Trump's warning on 'destroying' rest of Iran

🔮 Netanyahu, however, indicated that any such arrangement would not mean dropping the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties that were part of his outgoing coalition.

2026-11-03 · assertive framing · Netanyahu open to 'broad' government formation after election setback but rules out Arab parties

🔮 This year's elections will take place on November 3 with voters choosing members of Congress as well as several state and local officials.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · US midterm elections 2026: What they are, why they matter and when results will be out

🔮 Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk backed Republicans on Friday and warned that a Democratic sweep of the US House of Representatives, Senate and presidency in 2028 could lead to what he described as the “end of democracy in any meaningful sense of the word”, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · 'Will be game over for America': Musk raises three 'concerns' against Democrats ahead of midterms

🔮 The White House on Thursday shared a video of violent protest scenes from France, claiming that the unrest could represent their future if they back the Democratic Party in the November 3 midterm elections.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · ‘This is the future you want?’ White House cites France riots to slam Democrats ahead of midterms

🔮 The US Department of Justice said FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel will not serve as monitors during the November midterm elections, amid concerns from civil rights groups that the Trump administration’s plans for federal election oversight could intimidate voters.

2026-10-29 · mixed framing · US midterms: FBI, ICE agents will not serve as election monitors, DOJ says

🔮 “He is greatly appreciated and will be sorely missed,” she said, as quoted by AP.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · US judge Alvin Hellerstein, who handled Maduro trial, dies at 92

🔮 The additional forces could help expand US military options, although their presence does not establish whether or when Trump will authorise another attack.

2026-10-29 · mixed framing · Hegseth fires top Pentagon military planner as Trump weighs fresh Iran strikes: Report

🔮 Jennifer Shuford, deputy director and chief medical officer of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is set to leave the Trump administration after next week's midterm elections, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing sources.

2026-10-27 · mixed framing · CDC deputy director Jennifer Shuford to exit role after midterms amid vaccine policy changes: Report

Also by Trisha Mahajan

'You'll know soon enough': Trump's warning on 'destroying' rest of Iran

2026-11-06 · Times of India

Netanyahu open to 'broad' government formation after election setback but rules out Arab parties

2026-11-03 · Times of India

US midterm elections 2026: What they are, why they matter and when results will be out

2026-11-02 · Times of India

'Will be game over for America': Musk raises three 'concerns' against Democrats ahead of midterms

2026-10-30 · Times of India

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 39 articles by Trisha Mahajan →

The alleged victims included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a Rhode Island bank, a UK-based financial technology company, a Massachusetts mutual fund company and a Florida pet food company.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-06

🔮 The group would then direct employees to contact an attorney at a major law firm, whom they were also prepared to impersonate.

2026-11-06 · Times of India

Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US · mixed framing

Three people with nicknames including “Rocky Balboa”, “Superman Cash” and “Fat Boy” have been indicted in the US for allegedly using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and lawyers in a fraud scheme that targeted thousands of companies worldwide and stole around $129 million. uncertain

that → include → million

Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42, face charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, according to an indictment filed in a US District Court in New York. uncertain

Soall → face → York

The alleged scheme ran for more than 18 months and targeted businesses across several countries, reported AP. asserted

AP → allege → countries

According to court documents, the accused primarily targeted corporate accounting departments. uncertain

accused → accord → departments

They allegedly sent emails posing as company CEOs, asking employees to facilitate confidential financial transactions. uncertain

They → send → transactions

The requests were followed by phone or video calls in which the defendants used AI to mimic the executives' voices and, in some cases, their appearances. asserted

defendants → follow → cases

The group would then direct employees to contact an attorney at a major law firm, whom they were also prepared to impersonate. asserted

they → direct → whom

Soall allegedly posed as UK-based lawyers and had a “handwritten script titled ‘Lawyer Call’” to make himself appear genuine while speaking to victims, according to the US attorney's office. uncertain

himself → pose → office

Employees were subsequently instructed to transfer large sums to bank accounts across the world. asserted

Employees → instruct → world

The money was then converted into cryptocurrency to conceal its origins before being distributed among the accused and others involved, the indictment said. asserted

indictment → convert → accused

victims → include → Missouri

The three defendants, who are from Spain, the UK, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, were arrested between June and September. asserted

who → arrest → June

Hazan was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a New York court in 2008. asserted

Hazan → convict → 2008

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C Barnacle Jr said the case highlighted how emerging technology could be exploited for large-scale fraud. “As criminals continue to weaponize emerging technologies, the FBI remains committed to rapidly adapting our capabilities to identify, investigate, and disrupt those who seek to harm New Yorkers and businesses operating in our communities,” he said. uncertain

he → say → communities

Lawyers for Soall and Sheetrit did not immediately respond to requests for comment. asserted

Lawyers → respond → comment

It was unclear whether Hazan had legal representation. uncertain

Hazan → have → representation

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years on each wire fraud and money laundering charge, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory additional two-year sentence, according to the US attorney's office. uncertain

theft → convict → office

Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US

Quick Summary

AI analysis

Story

Compared with similar articles

Signals How these are calculated →

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Publisher

Who wrote this

Topics

Subjects

Narrative

Claims (17 extracted, 8 hedged)